This week: Trevello held its annual AGM in Belfast, Tourism Ireland host travel agents on a FAM with TourRadar, and ‘tis the season for travel agent advisory boards, with news from ACV, Antigua & Barbuda, and TICO; also, and Windstar Cruises introduced a marketing program for advisors, while more suppliers offer travel advisor month incentives.
Trevello
More than 300 travel advisors, supplier partners, and tourism leaders gathered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for Trevello’s inaugural Building Bridges Conference last week – five days of learning, networking, discovery, celebration, awards, and enthusiasm for the future.
“In uncertain times, travellers don’t want an algorithm. They want an advisor,” Trevello CEO Zeina Gedeon declared. “The world is shifting. So are we. And the bridges we build today are what make us unbeatable.”
Gedeon revealed that 2025 delivered 9% total sales growth and 7% commission growth for Trevello’s independent advisors and that 2026 is “running hotter” with Q1 results indicating sales up 8%, commissions up 10%, and average invoice value climbing to $2,977, a 5% increase year-over-year.
The event’s highlight was a final breathtaking evening gala at Titanic Belfast.
“When you watch 300 travel professionals hear ‘My Heart Will Go On’ performed live inside Titanic Belfast and you see their faces, and you feel what that song means in this place, that is the moment you understand why destination experiences matter more than any brochure ever written,” said Gedeon. “These advisors will carry tonight with them for the rest of their careers. This is what it looks like when an industry falls in love with a destination.”
Tourism Ireland/ Tour Radar
Ten leading Canadian travel agents who work with TourRadar, an adventure platform specializing in multi-day tours, took part in and immersive fact-finding visit to Ireland, hosted by Tourism Ireland (banner photo).
The action-packed itinerary brought the group across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with stops in Belfast, Derry-Londonderry, and Fermanagh, before continuing south throughout Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, wrapping up in the capital city of Dublin.
Along the way, advisors experienced a wide range of immersive activities, including walking tours, boat trips, cooking demonstrations, museum visits, and distillery experiences and further discovered the country’s rich culture and heritage, vibrant food and drink scene, and spectacular natural scenery.
“This TourRadar incentive FAM has provided an invaluable opportunity to build a strong relationship with our partners at TourRadar and showcase the island of Ireland directly to key Canadian travel professionals,” said Lauren Lamonday, Tourism Ireland’s Business Partnership Executive Canada. “By experiencing the destination first-hand, our partners can better understand the diversity and quality of Ireland’s tourism offering and feel confident recommending Ireland to their clients.”
SUPPLIERS
Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises has partnered with Approach Guides to offer travel advisors instant access to co-branded marketing pages. The pages are customized with the advisor’s name and contact information, providing a personalized version of windstarcruises.com. This enables advisors to present new Windstar ships, such Star Seeker and Star Explorer, to clients efficiently, without the need for marketing setup, logins, or technical expertise. Visit Windstar marketing (no login required) at inspires.to/windstar .
AGENT ADVISORY BOARDS
Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority
The Canada office of the ABTA recently conducted the first meeting of its Canadian Travel Agent Advisory Committee (ABTAAC), bringing together a group of highly engaged and experienced travel advisors from across the country.
The committee will play a central role in aligning trade strategy with real-time market dynamics, with a focus on maximizing growth and market share in 2026 and beyond, says the ABTA.
“The energy, insight, and enthusiasm this group has already brought to the table has been incredibly encouraging,” said Tameka Wharton, Director of Tourism, Canada. “Travel advisors play a critical role in how Canadians discover and experience destinations, and bringing this group together allows us to stay closely aligned with the market as it evolves. Their perspective will help shape how we grow the destination in a way that is both strategic and responsive as the global travel landscape continues to shift.”
The formation of the committee (photo above)is part of a broader effort to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s presence in the Canadian market. Recent initiatives include the appointment of new Quebec-based trade representation and expanded public relations efforts, building great visibility for the destination in Canada.
Co-chaired by Antigua and Barbuda Certified Travel Experts and 2025 top seller Laura Price, Blowes & Stewart Travel Group, and two-time top agent (2024 and 2025) Olimpia Govorusa, Travel Our World, Envoyage, the committee also includes Yvonne Campbell, Yvonne’s Travel and Tours (Nexion Canada); Jennifer Meyer, Creative Group; Anita Paton, The Travel Agent Next Door; Michelle Zimmer, Travelweek; Jakki Prince, Prince Adventures (Trevello).
Air Canada Vacations
ACV has announced that applications are now open for a new cohort of Travel Advisory Board members. The opportunity invites travel advisors who are eager to share their voice, collaborate with industry peers, and help shape the future direction of Air Canada Vacations.
The new board will continue to serve as a collaborative forum for idea-sharing, feedback, and innovation, ensuring that Air Canada Vacations remains aligned with the evolving needs of its valued partners and customers.
Travel advisors interested in applying to join the next Travel Advisory Board are encouraged to submit their application HERE.
TICO
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is now accepting applications from industry members for two opportunities to get involved and provide their expertise to help inform the provincial regulator’s work. Council members provide valuable advice and insight to TICO’s Board of Directors and senior leadership in carrying out its consumer protection mandate.
- Industry Advisory Council (IAC): TICO is recruiting one member for its IAC to work collaboratively, champion consumer protection, bring strong strategic judgment, and contribute with integrity and respect for diverse perspectives. The IAC meets up to four times per year, ideally in-person, for half day meetings. For more information about the IAC, click HERE
- Consumer Advisory Council (CAC): TICO is recruiting four members for its CAC with positions available for industry members whose role is focused on the consumer perspective. For example, this could include individuals who oversee customer experience, customer service, complaints or related functions within a travel agency or tour operator. The CAC meets up to four times per year, ideally in-person, for half day meetings. For more information about the CAC, click HERE.
Deadline for applications is Wed., May 27 at 4 p.m.
TRAVEL ADVISOR MONTH
Club Med
In honour of Travel Advisor Month, through May 16, Club Med is offering double Great Advisor Loyalty points for every booking confirmed at its resorts in Cancun and Puerto Plata, plus Buccaneer’s Creek, French West Indies; Charlevoix, Quebec; and Michès Playa Esmeralda, Dominican Republic. A reminder that 6,000 points equals one night in a Club Med Resort for one person.
Collette
Collette will host a multi-week giveaway exclusively on its Travel Advisor Network (TAN) platform throughout May. Each week, a premium prize will be revealed, giving advisors multiple opportunities to participate and win. Collette will also host a month-long daily giveaway featuring Yeti products, rewarding advisors who are actively booking travel.
Advisors automatically qualify by making a reservation and submitting a deposit. Seven prizes will be awarded daily, totaling 140 winners in May. At the conclusion of the promotion, one U.S. advisor and one Canadian advisor will be selected from the pool of winners to receive a travel voucher toward a Collette tour. Visit Collette’s travel advisor portal for details, https://www.gocollette.com/en/travel-advisors.
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.